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September 7, 2008

Gimcracks, Geegaws and other Accumulations

After packing about half of our stuff, we have finally admitted that most of it is not needed. Of course, this might be obvious to anyone reading this...but less stuff = less clutter which = a cleaner, more streamlined living space. Granted, all of our belongings are now packed in boxes reading "BASEMENT," but what can you do.

A few new developments this weekend, almost all adding to yet another evening of me flat on a heating pad, nursing my back:

• On Saturday Alexis and I drove up to my place of employ to rescue two bookcases and a library desk from the dumpster. We both embraced the idea of picking up the furniture though neglected to think clearly about the concept of hauling many pounds of solid walnut up four flights of stairs.

  The shelves are meant to sit atop small library desks, however I think they also might work as low-lying units beneath our large windows on the first floor. All of the pieces need to be refinished at some point, though are passable for a while until I learn how to refinish wood.

• Continuing the theme of rescue, my father salvaged the small farm table that I/we have used in the kitchen for years. A while back I wrote about this but can't find it- the gist is that our cats suck (or, rather, our discipline methods sucked) and for a year or so they used the legs as scratching posts. The table top was also badly scuffed- more the result of 50 years of use than anything else. Luckily, this was a hauling down four flights of stairs- and was quite the symbolic act for my parents, who have officially completed 9 years of helping me lug crap up and down walk up apartments. I think I will have to ask them to run up and down our basement stairs with 30lb weights from time to time, just for kicks.

  My dad is now hard at work re-planing the wood and attempting to give new life to the poor little table. If all goes well, we'll have its reincarnation by the time we move.

• A question for you all...we did decide to go with the light, light blue walls, white trim and (I think) dark brown couch in the living room. Most of the furniture in the living room will be dark wood- a small coffee table, maybe a low bookcase, and maybe a side table- and I would like to throw some bold color and modern shapes into the mix. IKEA has some great fabric and I thought that making two throw pillows for the couch just might work. What do you all think of these prints? What might work best?
• Lastly, the semester starts for me tomorrow...I am taking a class on the history of American social policy, which I am excited about...though that enthusiasm is tempered by our looming house repairs, move and a suspected office move. Please pray for my back. I enjoy sitting upright when I read homework.

Posted by callalillie at September 7, 2008 1:03 PM | Home Improvement , Little Things

COMMENTS

Posted by: Bob at September 7, 2008 9:57 PM

Posted by: alyssa at September 7, 2008 11:02 PM

Posted by: corie at September 8, 2008 7:26 AM

Posted by: alyssa at September 8, 2008 10:34 AM

Posted by: honor at September 8, 2008 11:46 PM